The world of blogging is continually changing(BBAW)

The world of blogging is continually changing. Share 3 things you believe  are essential tried and true practices for every blogger and 1-3 new trends or tools you’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.

When I started this Blog I hadn’t a clue what I was doing, I was bashing out posts with no idea of the results, for all intents and purpose I was still that lone insular reader I had always been. Then I started getting comments, which started a dialogue between myself and the individuals commenting, which still goes on now over a year later. Many books have past through that dialogue, but it’s essentially the same – the desire to express a passion for the written word, in whatever form it takes. So my first practice is if you like a blog or a post on a blog let them know - even if your opinion differs - start a dialogue, which leads to my second tried and true practice. If someone comments on your blog/post, reply because what you want is to build a rapport with these people, your fellow bloggers, you want to start a conversation, not get trapped in what is essentially a monologue (if that was the case, don’t have a comments box). This leads with almost pre-planned ease to my third tried and trusted thingummy bob – praise those that are there for you, support those that support you, this is the  essence of networking, as a group of individuals with a shared purpose. A perfect example of this is BBAW, which is made up of a mass of readers and bloggers all in their own insular worlds coming together to become a worldwide support network of Bookfiends.

The second part of this question, what new trends or tools you’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future? The obvious one is Twitter, this is a fantastic tool for Blogging. Now, I’m a relatively latecomer to this, but I’ve found it a fabulous help, forget how it can help promote your post (which it can) but the networking capabilities of it are fantastic, some mornings I’ve been involved  in book related chatter, that involved people in Asia, Australia, Europe, America etc., which definitely makes my day start with a big grin. The second is my smartphone, most bloggers who’ve received a comment from me, have received it by my phone, my tweeting is via an app on my phone as is my Goodreads app, my blogger app & then there’s another app, which is also my third chosen tool - Google Reader.

Hito

Human

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Side-view of homo sapiens

Once  bending with arms down

Now matchstick torso striking out,

Stark and upright earthling,

A figure striding, God knows where

Springy twiglike upside-down Y.

A wishbone. A divining rod.

Hito. Human. Ein Mensch.

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Naked and maskless.

Here neither female nor male

A bare-boned biped.

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And yet a self-reflecting mind.

At first two downward strokes

Inscribed on bone or tortoise shell,

A bare pictograph.

Bit by bit crisscross of symbols,

Living lives of their own,

A pointing out and interplay,

A signal’s doubleness.

Grounded sign-maker,

High-minded and down-to-earth.

Our human being.

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Michael O’Siadhail.